Summer Newsletter

The summer edition of our newsletter is available to download here. In this edition:

• NOTICE OF AGM/ILLUSTRATED TALK
• JOIN US...
• LET’S CELEBRATE!
• COMMUNITY MINIBUSES
• THANK YOU, HAYFIELD!
• DOING OUR BIT...
• FOOD ACTIVITIES
• MORE LOCAL TALENT
• WORKING WITH THE PARISH COUNCIL
• CUTTING CARBON: WHAT CAN YOU DO?
• NEWS YOU’VE MISSED?
• GOING A WANDER...
• UPCOMING EVENTS

Free Illustrated Talk - Improving Your Home and Saving Energy/Carbon, Thursday 18th July

You and your friends are re warmly invited to a free illustrated talk being given at The Royal Hotel, next Thursday, July 18th. The subject is energy efficient retrofitting - or improving - your home, and it's being given by Jonathan Atkinson of Manchester-based Carbon Co-op, who've many years experience of helping people make looked-for improvements to their homes in energy-efficient ways, cutting their energy/carbon emissions along the way, and improving their comfort levels.

Jonathan has entitled his talk 'People Powered Retrofit - Reducing Home Energy Demand', and he'll be providing tips which will interest many of us, whether we have a big project in mind or not. It should be a good occasion.

The talk takes place immediately after the (usually very brief) Sustainable Hayfield AGM, which starts at 7.30p.m., to which, again, everyone is welcome!

Posters are going up around the village, but we thought you'd appreciate this formal invitation. We hope to see you there!

Helping Others - and Yourselves

After the disappointing news re the community minibus service, here's some upbeat options for making a positive difference locally:

1. You may - or may not - know there's a 'walking bus' regularly taking youngsters to the primary school, starting at the bus station. This helps cut the number of cars using Swallow House Lane, with all the pollution and risks these create. Recently, Sustainable Hayfield supporters have helped ensure it operates five days a week, but more help is needed. Who knows, we may even get an equivalent bus walking from Little Hayfield! The planned roadworks on Swallow House Lane, when it will be closed to through traffic for months, mean it's even more sensible to have children walking to school, with adult oversight. If you can offer 20 minutes or so on a reasonably regular basis, this will help secure this valuable service. Do contact the school office in the first instance, on 01663 742357 or via office@hayfield.derbyshire.sch.uk. They'd love to hear from you!
2. Ever thought of supporting the local school by becoming a governor? There's a few vacancies for governors arising! Governors help shape the school's future and support the hardworking staff, the better to provide the rich education we want our children to have. The school is currently rated 'good' by Ofsted, who were complimentary about the governors' contributions at the last inspection, and numbers are increasing. If you'd like to know more, please download the literature and make your interest known to the school, as advised there. Or, if you want to know from an existing governor what the role entails, I'm happy to answer what questions I can, since I am one! Contact me on 01663 745940 or via lauriejamesis@btinternet.com.
3. We've had a request from an existing supporter, asking if we know anyone we could recommend to maintain hardwood windows, chosen over Upvc for environmental reasons. What's needed is someone to prepare and recoat them every so often, so they keep their condition. Do you know someone local you can recommend? Please let me know and I'll pass the word on. Thanks!
4. Last, this Sunday, July 14th, is the school's (and cricket club's) 'Summer Smasher', held at the cricket ground, from 11-4.30p.m. This is a fundraising event for both, but also a grand day's entertainment - and entry is free! There'll be bouncy castles, kids' 'tattoos', welly wanging, a coconut shy, hooking a duck stall, a 'lucky lolly tree', a series of live bands, Kwik cricket tournament, the annual cricket club duck race, cakes, snacks and hot drinks, quality ales and beers on tap, a gin bar, sausages and burgers...….and much more. And the weather is looking good for the event too! It's got to be worth a visit, and your support.

So... something you can help with here, and enjoy? We hope so. And thank you.

Community Minibus Service

As a number of you will know, it’s very sadly become apparent that the Hayfield Community Minibus service can no longer operate as it has so successfully for a number of years. Run by Hayfield Sustainable Transport limited (HSTL), a wholly independent but linked organisation to Sustainable Hayfield, it’s been confirmed that HSTL can no longer secure insurance for the minibuses. And without insurance, the facility cannot run. Shareholders, volunteer drivers and existing hirers have been informed and the service has ceased.

What may come in its place has yet to be determined but Roland Strube from HSTL is working hard to salvage what he can from this situation. Below, he sets out the basic facts of the situation.

Dear All

After around six years of growing use of the community minibus service, HSTL has been advised by its insurance brokers that, because of claims made over the last few years for damage sustained in the course of the minibuses’ operation, the community minibus service can no longer be covered for insurance purposes. And, once our own brokers have made that decision, no other insurance company will look at insuring the service.

This news has come as a great shock. We have strenuously sought alternative means of securing cover but have been unsuccessful. As a result, the minibuses cannot be operated or driven, and existing hirers have been informed. We are very sorry that events have taken this course, which was wholly unpredicted. We recognise the inconvenience this causes for those who have relied upon the service, and very much regret having to take this step. A valued community resource has, accordingly, been stood down with immediate effect.

We are continuing to work on rescuing what we can from this situation. This is not easy. Our first thoughts are to see whether one community minibus can be made available to the primary school, for its use (it already is a substantial user) and that the other might be used by a local passenger service vehicle operator who might commit to provide some of the same services on an affordable, commercial, basis. But this depends on funds available, shareholder intentions and the capacities and willingness of partner agencies. We will continue to explore these options and, when something concrete emerges, we shall endeavour to let the local community know of what arrangements it’s been possible to put in place.

I appreciate how disappointing this news will be for many people. We are ourselves devastated by this development, and will do what we can to mitigate this situation.

Sincerely

Roland Strube
On behalf of Hayfield Sustainable Transport Limited (HSTL)

It's That Time...

• Wilting in the sun of a Hayfield summer ? Huh! But fresh foods do, with (slightly) warming temperatures,which is why Village Greens and Grains Bakehouse have agreed that their Saturday morning 'pop up' outside The Pack Horse is to start and finish a little earlier. So they are now 'open for business' at 9.30a.m. and will leave around 11.30a.m. Please note. It's likely that they will revert to 10-12.00p.m. in the autumn, when the weather's supposed to cool!
• Early summer means proliferating Himalayan Balsam along our riversides and wet ground. It's invasive, shades out native vegetation and contributes to riverbank erosion. There's a fair bit of it in/around Hayfield but it's relatively easily dealt with: I've just cleared some plants stems from alongside the cricket pitch, and they were but 10% or less than last year's volume, which I also cleared. Those whose gardens abut rivers/streams should look out for it: it's an offence to let it grow! Here is a clear information sheet, kindly put together by Susan Wyatt a year or two ago, giving you the 'low down' on what to do. Please help. Simples!
• We've reported previously that the Parish Council resolved some weeks ago to, in the light of the climate emergency, to review how it might manage down its carbon emissions in what it does, and others do on its behalf. It set up a working group with Sustainable Hayfield to consider options. I'm delighted to report that this working group has met twice already, has a forward schedule of meetings and has had its terms of reference agreed by the Council. These include considering the carbon emission of the wider parish. We're now turning to the practical actions which can be taken. Discussions have been positive and, we believe, fruitful. We hope to bring you further news of what's happening, as we proceed.

What A Pool of Local Talent...!

The range of local talent seems sometimes to know no bounds. Consider:

• the energies of individuals and groups around the reality of a 'climate emergency' has featured on our TV screens very recently, with some signs that the uncompromisingly polite, creative but disruptive Extinction Rebellion activists have shifted public and political mood around 'the climate' significantly. Now in Matlock, this Wednesday, 15th May, at 1.00p.m. at the Council Offices, there's a demonstration/vigil by local activists supporting efforts to get DCC to declare a 'climate emergency', as many councils are now doing. DCC is debating a 'climate emergency' resolution that afternoon, and - if it passes - this will be the biggest council in Derbyshire to commit itself to progressively manage down local emissions, thanks to the energies of creative people - like you! If the House of Commons can do it - without a vote - so can DCC. Be there if you can!
• back after a week's absence due to May Queen, the artisans of Grains Bakehouse and Village Greens fruiterer/greengrocer will be standing again outside the Pack Horse on Saturday, 18th May, 10-12.00p.m. Order now!
• from Saturday, 25th May through to and including Monday 27th May, Hayfield Artists will be holding their customary open weekend, at around 11 locations around the village, from individual studios though Rosie Lee's and Throstle Farm, Little Hayfield to The Pack Horse and Ashlar alongside each other in the village centre. This event goes from strength to strength and offers the prospect of fine artworks, engravings, pottery and so much more, all produced locally and for sale! Time vary a little around the core hours of 10-5p.m., but the Pack Horse is open to view from 12 -11p.m. each day. Full details are at www.hayfieldartists.co.uk and the wider, countywide details -if you're minded to travel - are at www.derbyshireopenarts.co.uk.
• the same weekend, Sunday 26th May, Hand Made Hayfield - the village artisan market - is back at the Royal Hotel from 11-5.00p.m., looking to tempt you with handcrafted products from local craftspeople and those a little further afield. Their efforts are always well-supported, so it's wise to get there early!
• then two, untimed, offerings from Sustainable Hayfield supporters:
  • first, James Ellson from Farlands, Kinder (he of apple tree and near zero home carbon living fame) has secured a deal for publication of his book, a detective thriller called the Trail. James has long had the ambition to get into print and, after a million words spread across several efforts, it looks like he's managing it, with publishers Unbound, telling the story of a missing person enquiry which leads Manchester DCI (James was in the police) Rick Castle to Nepal. Unbound operate by crowdfunding, so promoting books takes place before, as well as after, publication and James has 90 days to pre-sell enough copies of The Trail to make it financially viable to commit to publication, which happens 6-9 months after the threshold has been reached. If you'd like to support a local author, please make a pledge and maybe get your name on the supporters' list, where there are already a good number of villagers. Details are at https://unbound.com/books/the-trail/ There's even a short video!
  • second, supporter Stuart Price from New Mills, previously featured in our newsletter has now settled into publishing his writings on 'transitional themes' (as in the Transitions environmental movement) in an accessible and mercifully brief online not-for-profit “magazine”, called Changing Times. It's an erudite and well-researched read, and issue 2 is out now. There's room for reflection in each article, and links made with key commentators and writers in each subject area covered. It's well worth having a look at and can be seen at www.changingtimes.me. For issue 3 the current plan is to look at new sustainable models of education.

I think you'll agree... That's a lot of local talent!

A Varied Diet... For Varied Tastes

A few, upcoming things which may appeal to people with quite different interests:

• first, this Saturday, May 4th, our Food Group is hosting a Plant and Seedling Swap at the library garden 11-1.00p.m., for those who want to make their gardens more attractive or productive. The idea's simple: you bring along seedlings/plants surplus to your requirements and you take away something you want in return. And, for those with nothing to offer, there'll be some supplies for you too! Sunflower seeds and runner beans will be available to all, whatever your age. A poster's attached as a reminder;
• second, our friends at Transitions New Mills are hosting a free talk/presentation on stylish and environmentally-friendly 'Retrofits' of private dwellings, Thursday 9th May, 8-10.00p.m. at The Butterfly House, which is part of The Torrs (ex public house), Market Street, New Mills. It will be given by Helen Grimshaw, who works for Urbed, a company with 40 years' experience working on environmental and sustainable buildings, and have strong links to the Carbon Co-op, and by Julian Ashworth, a local resident who's updated his typical house looking at scope to improve its environmental footprint. It should be a really interesting evening, especially for those who are thinking of updating their existing property along environmentally-friendly lines. Again, a potser is attached, giving details.
• third, most of us know Saturday May 11th is 'May Queen Day'. Because of needs for the space they use outside The Pack Horse, Village Greens and Grains cannot be present that day in Hayfield, so different arrangements are in place for their customers:
  • for Grains, you can double up your order via 01457 862 346 and collect this coming Saturday, May 4th or visit the shop;
  • for Village Greens, you can place your usual order this coming Saturday, or telephone it through (01457 852456 or text 07838 256631) and they'll deliver it to your address on Thursday 9th May or Friday 10th May. Normal service is resumed the following week!